Joe Fitzpatrick willing to go through stablemate to get Irish title

Not quite step over your own mother stuff, but Joe Fitzpatrick would fight his own stable mates to fulfill his Irish title dream.

The 21-year-old southpaw talent believes he is the best lightweight in Ireland and is confident by this time next year he will buckle the green strap around his waist.

The Belfast starlet is not yet Irish title eligible and is behind Stephen Ormond, Jamie Kavanagh, Paul Hyland Jr and Micheal Devine in the rankings.

Ormond and Kavanagh may not be on the radar, with ‘The Rock’ hoping for a return to World level and ‘The Nuisance’ out injured. However, he is keeping his eye on his fellow Mark Dunlop-promoted lightweight Paul Hyland Jr who has had unsuccessful negotiations with Devine – and is currently hoping to secure an Irish title fight with Australia-based Gearoid Clancy.

It seems Fitzpatrick is willing to fight the winner of either match-up if they are made, even if that means taking on his stablemate.

“This time next year I want to be Irish champion. There is not lightweight in Ireland that would beat me, definitely not. Even if you want to look in my own stable I’d beat them and sometimes you have to beat them to become champion,” Fitzpatrick told Irish-Boxing.com after his sixth pro win on Saturday.

Fitzpatrick opened a successful Red Corner debut show with a shut-out points victory over Gyulla Tallosi in the National Stadium.

‘The Dragon’ felt he could have slayed his opponent, but for a virus picked up two weeks out from the camp.

“I picked up a cold there last week and my chest was a bit sore during the fight. That is why I tired a bit. He was a bit awkward, he held and caught me with the head, but I think I dealt with him alright,” he added before further reflecting positively on his first fight since June.

“It is good to get the rounds in and build some experience. I was hoping to be out more, but I got a hand injury twice and that slowed it. It’s partially my fault why I haven’t been out too, but I am 6-0 and I am only a year and a half as a pro so it’s not too bad. I am happy with that progress and I am out again in December 3rd then on February 4th of next year.”